Why do I get an black exclamation mark in a black triangle on some of my photos in iPhoto?

I go to my events - get up a section of photos and they all look fine in the 'event'. But if I want to edit them the exclamation mark comes up. And if I want to use them to illustrate my blog etc. they will not allow me to select these specific photos - when I click on them they will not highlight.

The exclamation mark is an indication that the file path/link to the original file has been broken. Make a temporary, backup copy (select the library and type Command+D) and apply the two fixes below in order as needed:

Fix #1

Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.

Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option

In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.

Click on the Create button.

Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments but not books, calendars or slideshows. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.

I have the same problem after updating iPhoto about three months ago. I did the rebuilt a couple of times, but it only restores the thumbnails, which is not your problem. iPhoto does not allow dragging these photos to another location, and the only way I found around this problem is to email the photos to myself to do the manipulation on Photoshop or Preview

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